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Mayor proclaims Barbara Schreiber Day

Bill Armendariz, Deming
Published 2:28 p.m. MT July 29, 2015

Courtesy Photo
From left are City Council member Roxann Rincon, Mayor Benny Jasso, Barbara Schreiber and City Councilmen Joe "Butter" Milo and Dr. Victor Cruz. Friday, July 31, 2015 has been proclaimed Barbara Schreiber Day.(Photo: )

DEMING >> Tired of travel and ready to find a new home, Californians Vern and Barbara Schreiber planted stakes in Deming 18 years ago and built enough of a nest egg to retire in the desert southwest.

They made a comfortable life for themselves and found Luna County residents and the community of Deming to their liking, enough so that they began to humbly serve the community's less fortunate.

From their garage, they started to supply food and other essentials to people in need. Eventually, they got their 501(c)3 nonprofit status for what has become Deming Helping Hand, Inc.

Through 2006, the Schreibers operated out of a building at the Luna County Courthouse Park and the local Masonic Lodge on Eighth Street. With the aid of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Helping Hand obtained a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grant and bought a large warehouse at 3801 Raymond Reed Blvd in the Industrial Park, which is their current location.

Vernon, then president, saw the building once and pronounced it perfect. But then, unfortunately, he passed away before the move into the new building was completed. Vernon would have been 94 this Tuesday. The building carries his name.

Barbara is currently the president of the board of directors and will be retiring and moving back to California at the end of August.

Barbara was recognized by Mayor Benny Jasso and the City Council on Tuesday during a special meeting at the John Strand Municipal Building, 309 S. Gold St.

Besides its monthly food commodities distribution, Helping Hand operates a thrift store. It is one of the largest in the area and carries a variety of gently-used items, including: large and small appliances, indoor and outdoor tools, electronics, kitchenware, toys, luggage, fashion accessories, plenty of clothing and sometimes even sewing machines.

"We take donations of anything that is usable," said Barbara. "We take donations of food and even money."

Helping Hand also assists families with utilities on occasion. A large portion of the food and monetary donations are received from local businesses and other organizations — state and federal.

"It's gotten bigger than our original mission, and since the majority of the money comes from the store, we always tell people to shop, shop, shop," Barbara said.

For questions and donation pick-up for items that you cannot deliver, call 575-546-2558.

The city's proclamation reads: "I Benny L. Jasso, Mayor of the City of Deming, do hereby proclaim July 31, 2015 as a day to honor Mrs. Barbara Schreiber for her services, generosity, and compassion to the citizens of Deming and Luna County; and would like to encourage all members of the community to honor Mrs. Schreiber by continuing to support Deming Help Hand, Inc.